Gurcharan to start off against Choi Ki Soo

Sydney: Gurcharan Singh, rated as a good medal hope for India, takes on Choi Ki Soo of Korea in the 81 kg (light heavy) category Olympic boxing competitions at the exhibition hall ring on Wednesday.

A compact pugilist, Gurcharan is easily one of the best in Asia, but it remains to be seen how he fares at the Games, especially after a shoulder surgery undertaken before his training in Cuba.

Gurcharan, who had undergone Arthroscopy in his right shoulder in May this year, said he was now fighting fit. ''I was back training just 20 days after the surgery and a month later I was boxing,'' said the Bangkok Asian Games bronze medallist.

The Indian lad qualified for the Games in style by bagging the gold in the Seoul qualifying event. The 23-year-old Punjab lad has as many as 17 international medals to his credit, 11 of them gold.

The imposing pugilist said he had no complaints regarding the build-up to the Games. ''We faced good competition in Cuba and in my heart I am ready to take on Sydney.''

This is Gurcharan's second Olympics and he has beaten the Korean he is facing on Wednesday in an international tournament earlier.

UNI